Chapter 28 : The Mikaelson Ball
At the entrance, Caroline Forbes paused, taking in the grandeur. Her sapphire gown hugged her figure, the fabric shimmering with every step she took. Her eyes, like twin pools of light, swept across the room, and for a moment, she hesitated. Klaus Mikaelson, standing near the bar with a drink in hand, felt her presence immediately. His sharp eyes softened as he tracked her movement, a slow smile spreading across his face.
He closed the distance between them, his voice like velvet. "Caroline," he breathed, the single word carrying more weight than a thousand. His gaze never left her as he continued, "You look ravishing tonight."
Caroline's heart fluttered involuntarily, but she masked it with a playful smirk, brushing past him. "Klaus," she responded, her tone light but guarded. "Don't start."
Klaus's lips curved into a knowing grin, his eyes lingering on her, watching as she sauntered towards the bar. He felt the electricity between them, palpable, but he allowed her space—knowing that, with Caroline, timing was everything.
---
Kol Mikaelson, always one for mischief, noticed the subtle exchange from across the room. His sharp eyes glinted with amusement as he approached Rebekah, who stood watching the night's festivities with thinly veiled disinterest.
"I see our hybrid brother has his eyes on Caroline again," Kol murmured, sidling up to Rebekah. "Think she'll take the bait this time?"
Rebekah rolled her eyes, casting a quick glance at Klaus before turning back to Kol. "Caroline's not stupid. She knows Klaus is dangerous." She paused, her lips twitching into a smirk. "But she does like playing with fire."
Kol chuckled, his eyes flicking back to Caroline. "Who wouldn't? The tension between those two could light up the entire town."
---
Across the room, Damon Salvatore weaved through the crowd with his usual swagger, his eyes scanning for Elena. He spotted her near one of the windows, her figure bathed in moonlight. For a moment, he stood still, watching her. She looked beautiful—more than beautiful—radiant. His heart clenched, as it always did, at the sight of her.
Elena turned, her gaze meeting his across the room. She smiled, but there was something in her eyes, a flicker of worry that Damon knew all too well. He closed the gap between them quickly, slipping his arm around her waist, pulling her closer than was appropriate for such a public setting.
"Should you be here?" Damon whispered, his lips dangerously close to her ear. "With the Mikaelsons hosting this little get-together, it seems like tempting fate."
Elena leaned into his embrace slightly, the familiar comfort of his touch easing the tension in her body. "We need to know what Esther's planning," she whispered back, her voice barely audible over the music.
Damon's fingers tightened around her waist, his lips brushing against her temple. "And if she's planning something deadly?"
Elena pulled back slightly, looking up into his eyes. "We'll figure it out, Damon. We always do."
For a brief moment, the world seemed to fade away as they stood there, close, locked in an intimate bubble amidst the chaos of the ball.
---
Meanwhile, Klaus watched from the shadows, his eyes following Damon and Elena. A flicker of jealousy crossed his face, quickly replaced by his usual mask of cool indifference. He shifted his gaze, catching sight of Caroline at the bar, now laughing softly with a guest.
In two strides, Klaus was beside her, leaning in just close enough that his breath ghosted over her skin. "Are you really going to spend the evening avoiding me, love?" he asked, his voice low, almost a purr.
Caroline stiffened but turned toward him, her pulse quickening at his nearness. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, the intensity in his gaze almost suffocating. "I wasn't avoiding you," she replied, raising an eyebrow. "I was enjoying myself. You should try it sometime."
Klaus chuckled, his lips twitching into a smirk. "I'd enjoy myself more if you'd dance with me."
Caroline blinked, caught off guard by the simple request. For a moment, she saw past the ruthless hybrid, into something deeper—something vulnerable, even. Before she could stop herself, she nodded. "One dance."
Klaus's smile widened, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes as he took her hand and led her onto the dance floor. His touch was firm, but not possessive, guiding her as the music swirled around them. For the first time in a long while, Caroline felt herself relax in his arms.
As they swayed to the rhythm, Klaus's hand on the small of her back sent shivers through her body. He leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper. "You belong in a world like this, Caroline. A world of power, beauty, and eternity."
Caroline felt a lump form in her throat, but she forced herself to smile. "I'm not interested in eternity, Klaus."
His eyes darkened, his thumb gently brushing the back of her hand. "Maybe not now. But someday... you might."
---
Meanwhile, Kol had found his way to Bonnie, standing near one of the grand windows overlooking the garden. The flicker of candlelight illuminated her sharp features, and Kol's mischievous grin widened. He approached slowly, his gaze locking onto hers.
"Well, if it isn't the elusive Bonnie Bennett," Kol greeted, his voice laced with playful charm. "Care to join me for a dance?"
Bonnie shot him a dry look. "Not in the mood, Kol."
Kol's smile didn't falter, though he took a step closer, his voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "Come now, darling. One dance won't kill you."
Bonnie hesitated, her eyes narrowing, but there was something in Kol's gaze—an intensity, a fire—that intrigued her. She sighed, setting her glass down and taking his hand. "One dance."
As Kol led her onto the dance floor, his grip firm but gentle, Bonnie couldn't help but notice the way his eyes lingered on hers, as if searching for something. The two moved in perfect sync, and for a moment, Bonnie forgot the danger that always seemed to lurk around the Mikaelsons.
Kol's hand slid from her waist to her lower back, pulling her slightly closer, their bodies nearly touching. "You know," he murmured, his lips near her ear, "for someone who claims to hate us, you're awfully good at pretending."
Bonnie stiffened slightly, but her voice remained calm. "I'm not pretending. I just know how to handle myself."
Kol's smile turned predatory. "That you do, love. That you do."
---
At the bar, Damon, having watched Kol and Bonnie, turned to Stefan, who was nursing a drink by his side.
"Don't trust that one," Damon muttered, his eyes still on Kol.
Stefan sighed, his eyes flicking toward Elena. "We're surrounded by people we can't trust, Damon. But right now, we have bigger problems."
Damon raised an eyebrow. "Esther?"
Stefan nodded. "She's planning something. I can feel it. We just need to figure out what."
Damon's gaze turned serious, his voice low. "Whatever it is, we stop it. No one's messing with us, not even the Original family."
Stefan clinked his glass against Damon's, a silent vow exchanged between the brothers.
---
As the night wore on, the tension in the Mikaelson mansion seemed to grow. Every conversation, every glance, was laced with undercurrents of danger and secrets. The music played on, but beneath the surface, the air crackled with the promise of violence. And amidst it all, intimate connections—fleeting touches, whispered promises—threaded through the night, weaving together moments of passion, tension, and unspoken desires.
As Klaus and Caroline danced, Kol and Bonnie moved in sync, and Elena stood between the Salvatore brothers, the weight of their complicated lives pressed in from all sides, reminding them that nothing was ever simple in their world.
And this night, like so many others, would end in chaos.
As the night unfolded, Klaus extended an invitation to Caroline for a walk through the garden, the twinkling lights of the estate casting a warm glow on the evening.
"I'm glad that you came," he said, his voice carrying a subtle undercurrent of sincerity.
"I see," Caroline responded, guarded as always, yet unable to hide her curiosity.
Their stroll led them toward the stables, where Klaus stopped in front of a pair of horses. The creatures stirred softly, sensing Caroline's presence as she stepped closer, her hand gently brushing against one of their muzzles. For a brief moment, there was peace in the simple interaction. The horses, unlike people, didn't carry the weight of judgment or fear, something Caroline had learned to appreciate.
"You like horses?" Klaus's voice broke the stillness, soft but sharp enough to pull her back to the moment.
Caroline withdrew her hand, turning slowly to face him. There he was—Niklaus Mikaelson, predatory yet enchanting, his gaze filled with the kind of intensity that made her heart race despite herself. He smiled, the kind of smile that could melt defenses, and she found herself caught in that magnetic pull he had over people, whether they wanted to admit it or not.
"Klaus," she started, her voice barely above a whisper, "why did you invite me here?"
A playful smirk danced on his lips. "I fancy you. Is that so hard to believe?"
"Yes," she admitted quickly, almost defensively.
"Why? You're beautiful, strong, full of light. I enjoy you," he said, his words dangerously sincere, and for a brief second, Caroline's eyes flicked down toward his lips, betraying her hesitation.
"Well, don't," she replied, trying to ground herself. But his hand came up to cup her cheek, drawing her back into the intensity of his gaze. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, they stood in the intoxicating closeness of unspoken feelings.
"My apologies," he whispered, his eyes never leaving hers. "Where is your boyfriend?"
"I came alone," she responded, her voice firmer than before, an assertion of her independence.
Klaus's smile widened, happiness creeping into his tone. "So, you're unspoken for."
The conversation shifted as Klaus began speaking about loyalty and betrayal, recounting his past with an air of vulnerability. He shared the story of how his father had killed his favorite horse, severing its neck with a sword. As he spoke, he watched her closely, gauging her reaction, though Caroline didn't flinch, listening intently.
"To answer your question," she finally said, "yes, I like horses. But people? They actually like me, too. So, I'll be inside."
Her words were a soft reminder of her strength, her defiance. She left him standing in the moonlight, watching as she gracefully retreated back into the party.
Inside the ballroom, Kol and Rebekah were nursing drinks, their conversation momentarily pausing as Caroline approached.
"Rebekah," Caroline greeted, her voice steady, yet a tension lingered beneath her tone.
"Caroline, darling, you look lovely. That dress—Nik sure knows how to pick one. You should thank me," Rebekah said with a smug smile.
Kol chuckled under his breath, glancing away to hide his amusement. The dynamic between Caroline and Rebekah always seemed to hover between thinly veiled compliments and underlying tension.
Ignoring the jab, Caroline addressed Rebekah more seriously, "Can you please leave Matt out of whatever is going to happen tonight?"
Rebekah raised a brow while Kol looked on, intrigued by the request.
"Why ask, little light?" Kol interjected, unable to resist his curiosity. He knew of Caroline's past relationship with Matt, but this was beyond what he'd expected. In this world, Matt was a mere mortal, living amidst creatures far beyond his understanding. But to Caroline, he was still a person she cared about.
Caroline's voice softened. "Matt has no one here. His sister is gone, and Elena—she keeps him as a backup plan in case all the supernatural stuff doesn't work out. He doesn't deserve that. He's coping with enough loss. Please, just keep him out of whatever's going to happen."
Rebekah exchanged a look with Kol, who was grinning at how impassioned Caroline had become.
"Don't worry, Caroline," Rebekah said with a light shrug. "Matt's safe tonight."
Satisfied, Caroline gave a small nod, though Kol, still amused, couldn't help but laugh.
"She really is something," Kol mused as Caroline moved away. He looked at Rebekah, and then his gaze drifted across the room, landing on Bonnie, who stood out amidst the crowd like a beacon of magic.
With a predatory smirk, Kol made his way over to her. "So, Bonnie. I thought you said you were leaving after the dance."
Caught off guard, Bonnie hesitated, unsure of how to respond to his sudden appearance. Kol pressed on before she could answer.
"So, witch, who's your teacher in magic?"
"My teacher?" Bonnie blinked, thrown by the abruptness of the question.
"Yes, the one guiding you in the craft. Who are they?" Kol persisted, his curiosity piqued by the idea of how little she seemed to know about her own powers.
Bonnie furrowed her brow. "Why do you care?"
Kol's smile widened. "Let's just say I'm curious about how magic has progressed in the last century."
"I don't have a teacher. I learn from grimoires."
"Grimoires?!" Kol looked genuinely astonished. "Wait, you read grimoires but you don't have a mentor to guide you through them?"
Bonnie straightened, suddenly feeling inadequate under his scrutinizing gaze. "Grimoires are straightforward. Anyone can read them."
Kol sighed deeply, his expression morphing into one of mild disappointment. "Little witch, if you think you've been reading them right, you've only been scratching the surface. Grimoires are encoded with magic, their real spells locked away unless you know how to properly channel it. You've been missing the real knowledge hidden inside."
Bonnie's jaw dropped slightly. "That's not possible. Magic is magic."
Kol smiled gently, almost pityingly. "No, it's not. Not all of it. Some magic is a storm, Bonnie, and yours—yours is twisting, waiting to break free. You don't even know how powerful you are yet."
His words echoed in her mind, leaving her unsettled.
Bonnie's eyes narrowed as she studied Kol, unsure of whether to trust him. Despite his playful demeanor, there was an intensity in his gaze that made her wary. His reputation preceded him—an Original vampire with a love for chaos and destruction, and she wasn't sure if he had hidden motives.
"What do you want from me, Kol?" she asked cautiously, crossing her arms.
Kol's smile widened, his expression a mixture of amusement and intrigue. "I want to help you, little witch. There's so much potential in you, untapped and wild. It would be a shame to see it wasted."
Bonnie scoffed, suspicion flickering in her dark eyes. "Help me? And what do you get out of it?"
"Amusement, primarily," Kol replied with a wink. "But also, I find it fascinating to see someone like you grow into their power. Imagine what you could do with proper guidance."
"And you think you can provide that guidance?"
Kol's playful grin softened into something more serious. "I know I can. Your ancestors were some of the most powerful witches in history. It's in your blood, Bonnie Bennett. With my experience and your potential, we could achieve great things. You have no idea how far you could go."
Bonnie hesitated, Kol's words sinking in. She had always felt the immense power of her lineage, the responsibility weighing on her shoulders. Ever since her grandmother died, she had been fumbling through magic, often feeling out of control. The offer was more tempting than she wanted to admit.
"Fine," she said finally, her tone reluctant but determined. "I'll let you teach me. But if you try anything—"
"I wouldn't dream of it," Kol interrupted, holding up his hands in mock surrender, though his mischievous smirk lingered. "I promise, little witch, you'll be safe with me. I'd be a fool to cross someone with such raw magic, after all."
Bonnie nodded, still skeptical but willing to give him a chance. She had nothing to lose and everything to gain. If Kol was telling the truth, she might finally have the control she needed to protect her friends and herself. The thought of becoming the powerful witch she was meant to be stirred something in her—something she hadn't felt since her grandmother was alive.
As the night drew on, the ballroom filled with music, laughter, and the faint clink of champagne glasses. Caroline stood near the large windows, watching the scene unfold before her. She could feel Klaus's eyes on her, and it unnerved her. His words from earlier echoed in her mind.
"I fancy you. Is that so hard to believe?"
She hated that she did believe it. Klaus, the hybrid, the villain she had been warned about for so long, had been the source of a whirlwind of confusion for her. She couldn't deny the spark between them, but his motives were as unpredictable as the man himself. Did she trust him? No. But did she feel something for him? That was a much harder question to answer.
Rebekah approached, a glass of champagne in her hand, her bright eyes glinting with amusement. "You look deep in thought, Caroline."
Caroline forced a smile, feeling slightly off-kilter. "Just trying to make sense of everything."
Rebekah chuckled, knowingly. "Ah, my brother can be quite the enigma, can't he? But trust me, he genuinely cares for you. He doesn't usually spend this much time courting anyone, you know."
Caroline raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "That's what I'm afraid of."
Rebekah took a sip of her champagne, her smile widening. "Relax. He may be the world's most dangerous man, but he has his heart set on you. And you're strong enough to handle him."
"Handle him?" Caroline muttered. "Yeah, I doubt anyone can really handle Klaus Mikaelson."
Rebekah laughed, a musical sound. "True. But you've already caught his attention. Trust me, Caroline, my brother is a lot of things, but when he wants something, he's relentless."
Caroline couldn't help but glance across the room at Klaus, who was currently speaking with Elijah. His stance was casual, but his eyes, when they flicked to hers, were intense—an unspoken promise of something deeper. It made her heart race and filled her with unease.
"Don't worry too much," Rebekah said, sensing her discomfort. "Just enjoy the night. You're among friends, after all."
Caroline looked around the ballroom at the mix of vampires, witches, and humans. It was an odd gathering, but somehow, for the moment, it felt almost... right. She hadn't expected to feel this way in a room full of Originals, but here she was, not feeling as threatened as she might have a few months ago.
She took a deep breath, deciding to let go of her worries for now. "Yeah," she said with a small smile. "I guess you're right."
Meanwhile, across the room, Kol lingered near Bonnie, still intrigued by her untapped power. She could feel his eyes on her as they both listened to the music, and for a moment, she wondered if she had made the right choice trusting him. But the promise of learning more about magic, about her own abilities, was too alluring to pass up.
"Ready to begin your lessons?" Kol asked, his voice low, smooth, and full of mischief.
Bonnie looked at him, her guard still up. "We'll see. But I'll be watching you, Kol."
Kol grinned. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
With that, the evening pressed on, each character—human, vampire, and witch—locked in their own swirling thoughts and plans. The night was far from over, and the seeds of alliances, betrayals, and power plays had only just begun to sprout.
As the ball neared its end, the atmosphere shifted with an electric tension that hung in the air like a thick fog. Esther, their matriarch, stood gracefully at the center of the room, her presence commanding immediate attention. The flickering candlelight danced across the walls, casting shadows that seemed to whisper secrets.
"May I have your attention, please!" she called, her voice smooth and melodic, cutting through the soft hum of conversation. Champagne flutes were distributed, shimmering in the light, and Kol, ever observant, noticed something magical swirling in the golden liquid.
"She really did it, huh?" Kol muttered under his breath, his brow furrowing in disbelief. 'Couldn't think any mother was capable of this in my other life, where mothers practically killed themselves to save their children, even if they were monsters. And here's the Mikaelson matriarch, trying to bind her children so she can kill them all together. What a mother we have, and people think it's easy.'
To confirm his suspicions, Kol leaned in closer and whispered an incantation, a spell he had theorized about but never tested. The room seemed to hush as he softly spoke the words, feeling the familiar rush of magic course through him.
"Óðs runar, svá máttugir,
Ljómið nú, veitir þekkingar.
Með þessum tákninum skoða
ég þaðan sem öll galdurin koma."
(Translation: "Runes of Odin, so mighty, shine now, grant knowledge. With these symbols, I inspect from where all magic comes.")
As soon as he finished the incantation, a tingling sensation washed over him. He understood the intricate web of the blood-binding spell layered with a curse—its effects synchronized, no matter the intent. He glanced around at his siblings, noting their expressions of intrigue and amusement, except for Finn, who stood apart with his typical air of disapproval. Kol lightly shook his head, suppressing a smile as he pretended to sip the champagne, his siblings following suit with curious glances.
Elijah, ever the strategist, pondered how to avoid drinking in front of the Salvatores and their mother. But just as he formulated a plan, the doppelgänger interrupted his thoughts. "Elijah, are you not going to take a sip?" she asked innocently, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
'Sneaky little thing,' he thought to himself, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he prepared for her probing.
---
Meanwhile, Caroline and Klaus slipped away from the thrumming crowd, drawn into a more intimate corner of the ballroom adorned with opulent paintings. They halted in front of a large portrait of a snowflake, its intricate details glimmering under the warm light.
"So, what did you want to show me?" Caroline asked, tilting her head as she examined the artwork. The snowflake seemed to capture the beauty of winter, its delicate edges almost ethereal.
"One of my passions," Klaus replied, his voice low and smooth.
Caroline looked up, genuinely impressed. "Impressive. I take it the curators at the Louvre are not on vervain?"
Klaus shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze never leaving her form. He savored the way she studied his work, her brows slightly furrowed in concentration. "Well, that's their mistake."
Her fingers grazed the frame as she looked down at the piece, her curiosity piqued. "What about these? Where did you steal this from?"
A flirtatious smile played on Klaus's lips as he leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Well, that's a long story. Rest assured it was worn by a princess almost as beautiful as you."
Caroline felt her cheeks warm at his words, her smile widening as she held his drawings with careful reverence. "Wait a second, did you do these?"
"Yeah, um, actually one of my landscapes is hanging in La Hermitage," he replied, a hint of pride in his tone, "not that anyone would notice."
Caroline rolled her eyes dramatically, causing a small grin to break through Klaus's usual stoic demeanor. "Have you been?"
She answered honestly, her voice tinged with a hint of wistfulness. "I've never really been anywhere."
Klaus's expression shifted to earnestness, and he leaned in slightly, his tone sincere. "I'll take you. Wherever you want—Rome, Paris, Tokyo?"
The two stared at each other, laughter bubbling unexpectedly between them, a moment of shared dreams and unspoken promises.
"You can get anything you want with a snap of your fingers," Caroline murmured, her smile faltering. "Why does everything need to be controlled by you? The need for hybrids…."
Klaus's demeanor shifted; a flicker of irritation crossed his face. "Don't. Those are things you don't understand. And controlling? That is a big accusation, my dear."
Caroline shook her head, a fire igniting in her eyes as she held his gaze. "I get it. Your father did not love you, and you assume no one else will either. And that's why you compel people, or you sire them, or you try to buy them off. That's not how it works! You don't connect with people because you don't even try to understand them!"
With that, Caroline turned on her heel, her heart racing as she left Klaus standing alone, the weight of her words hanging in the air between them. She felt a rush of emotion—a mix of anger and regret—as she pushed through the throngs of elegantly dressed guests, desperate to escape the tangled web of feelings that Klaus had spun around her.
Klaus watched her go, a mixture of admiration and frustration twisting in his chest. He wanted to reach out, to pull her back and explain, but he knew that every step she took away from him was one that brought her closer to understanding his truth. The evening swirled around him, laughter and music echoing, but all he could see was the glimmer of blonde hair disappearing into the crowd.
And in that moment, he realized that perhaps, for the first time, he may truly lose something precious.
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Okay, I was editing the ball chapters, and while I was editing, I felt a little dissonance. Then I rewatched the episode, and I was like, "meh." There wasn't much to do in the episode except for some idiotic drama with Elena. With that in mind, I edited all the chapters into one, and thus we get this chapter. It took a lot of time. I always appreciate any advice, as well as discussions.
As some of you have guessed I was editing while posting these chapters I will be reposting it across all the platforms I have an account in which are WN FF and here and on my Pat then you guys can discuss with me while I start writing the next chapters